Monday, 29 April 2013

My eldest son moved to Manchester to begin a new job on Wednesday. Full time, the first full time position he will have had in his qualifying status - A Statistician. I am thrilled for him and he is really looking forward to the challenge.

The middle son has some exciting opportunities up in the air but I will not jinx them by chatting about them.

My daughter Megs had an audition for a job in a tea shop in the town on Saturday - audition rather than interview as the main skill needed was piano playing for customers. This will be Megs first paid job - she has been an Oxfam Volunteer for the last year - she said the playing went fine she just doubts getting to grips with the coffee machine........ I am thrilled for her - a brilliant way for her to showcase her talent for gentle soulful playing. She starts on Saturday !

So with all this change going on I thought long and hard about change for myself.

I have decided to leave Lovin' Ink and return to being a lone tutor. Its been a tough decision especially as Lovin' Ink has been doing so well, but I know its the right one for me. I am feeling nervous about change as we all do but I am also excited about embracing opportunities as they come my way.

In amongst the change I am going to give my stash a major overhaul so watch out as I add a page for sale items over the coming weeks.

Friday, 19 April 2013

Being without a MoJo affects me usually at least twice a year so this is no surprise. If you have been following me a while then you will have noticed a pattern. If I am stuck I reach for my Mollies!

They are fun, whimsical and build up scenes really well so here is one such creation.

Molly and George at the seaside.

I made something similar to this once before at a class with Clare Rowlands, the Molly Blooms creator however that was a kitchen scene so after playing about watching some youtube demos, for this card type ,and adjusting the measurements, so I have enough space for them, here it is.

Molly and George are attached with a piece of acetate so this folds easily to pop into and envelope to send. Love these papers by Basic Grey - aptly called Whats up? they cost just 43p a sheet in the sale at the local shop. Love Basic Grey papers!

Today I am at stamping club so hopefully being filled with inspiration from the crafty ladies who come along. They are a terrific bunch and certainly brighten up any Friday!

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Here is the Yorkshire Dales this is a familiar sight, In fact we are surrounded by scenes just like this one with lambs jumping around so its perfect inspiration for my DT piece this week.

The image has been stamped onto mixed media paper then coloured with distress inks.

Inside I made a jigsaw using a die I bought from the USA - at just 9cm square its a dinky size but this will be sent in pieces for the recipient to make up themselves.As you can see the sentiment changes on the inside!

Sunday, 7 April 2013

An unexpected free day and a yearning for the sea can mean only one thing in this house - a trip to Filey! I am lucky to live between the East and West coasts so a drive to see the sea does not take long.

After a tough week it was lovely to step back in time and relive some favourite memories with my family. (a warning here there re lots of pictures and un necessary ramblings!)

First stop Inghams.

Now I live in a town with an award winning fish and chips restaurant but non compares to this establishment in Filey, North Yorkshire.

The scene is set all around you

with amazing sights to delight inquisitive little minds

no fancy frills

but a good cup of tea in-keeping with the theme

The lightest batter and most melt - in - your- mouth fish. This is a small haddock and chips - no one dare order the large.........

This was Amy's fishcake which as you can see was bigger still and she could not eat the chips! The funny thing was on chatting with the waitress she was from Skipton ! Just where I live!

A stroll around the shops - this is a fav haunt of my eldest son

who holds a passion for history

which is present in every piece of memorabilia this shop sells.

This shop has been there forever. As a little girl I used to spend my holiday money here on a big toy. My own kids have done the same. I always have to have a look inside.

This display took my eye in the local chemist. Of course the Britishness first caught my eye but look what its all about!

The Royal British Legion Ladies branch! Way to go ladies !!

Filey is a very proud Town with some amazing memorials - this one is used every single day as a peaceful place to come and remember those who fought in the first and second world wars.

Look at the flag flying proudly in tribute.

It would appear the un politically correct funny postcards have been replaced by these as they were on sale in every shop.

Just a back alley - nothing special - except at the end of here is one of the places we had a holiday in as children. Walking down this alley as a youngster to the main street was a very exciting feeling.

and of course a land of Tat shop. My brother and I spent many hours wandering this shop trying to decide what we would spend our last few pennies on from our holiday pocket money. I just had to buy some tat for his daughter in here!

Afternoon tea in Bramwells before it closed for the afternoon was very civilised! This is my Sis Amy.

Then down to the front where it was almost high tide. The view of Filey Brigg was magnificent.

The sound of the sea utterly peaceful

The golf is still crazy - different to when I was a child but crazy non the less.

This sculpture is fairly new. Donated to the town by a resident in memory of her husband it towers above folks but looks so at home there.

I don't remember this either but I like it very much.

The paddling pool is now filled in but looks great.

sitting for half an hour by the sea was the most healing thing I have done all year. I realised whilst I was just listening that being by the sea is the only time I cannot hear the tinnitus in my head, which is a loud whooshing noise. The sea sounds the same but louder so for once I felt in harmony with my surroundings - utter bliss!

A visit here is always a must. As children the importance of the work done by the RNLI was instilled in us in a most harrowing way.

The big lifeboat is launched through those big concertina doors which were once made of wood. After watching the boat launch as a child ,one day, a couple of hours later one of the lifeboat men was nailing a rubber dinghy to the door as a stark reminder to parents to NOT let their children go out in the sea in such a vessel. The children rescued from this particular dinghy had gone out as far as Flambrough Head before being rescued and boy were they lucky that those volunteers managed to get to them . I have to support the RNLI - their work around the shores of our Country is utterly amazing.

A trip to Filey is never complete without one of these babies. A freshly cooked doughnut which melts in the mouth!

Nothing quite like them!

and here is the sound of peace. Even the children's noises don't spoil it as their sheer delight at the waves chasing them makes me smile!

A wonderful day - and with all that sea air I will sleep like a baby tonight !

Hope you managed till the end!

Have a fab weekend - tomorrow looks to be a blue sky day too - wonder what you will do?

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

I have some fab bee stamps so finding something with wings was quite an easy task. Here I have blended a background of wild honey and mustard seed distress ink - overstamped with black archival ink then used a water brush to bleach out the bees wings.

the reaction of water on the distress ink never ceases to thrill me!

Over on Creative Moments this challenge is all about things with wings with some fab projects from my fellow teamies.

This is also great for my facebook page challenge which you can find here

Don't be put off by the name we have folks from all over who play along.

This months challenge is to make something using orange and yellow seeing as the sun is still in hiding!